Retainer for curtains or the like



Oct. 19, 1954 J. w. PALM 2,692,018

RETAINER FOR CURTAINS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 23, 1953 IMVSMTOW- QM, v2 M LM Patented Oct. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RETAINER FORCURTAINS OR THE LIKE James W; Palm, Rockford, 111.

Application October 23, 1 953, Serial No. 387,906

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for engaging and holding back from the lower portion of window curtains or the like suspended from the top of the window frame and having their intermediate and lower portions pulled horizontally across and beyond the window to leave the same exposed.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which may be mounted easily on a. standard windowframe and which is constructed in a novel manner to take advantage of the characteristics of the frame to enable the device to be projected horizontally therefrom to hold back curtains but to be retracted to an out-of-the-way position within the frame when not in use.

A more detailed object is to correlate the dimensions of the retaining device with those of the window frame in a novel manner to enable the sash weight air space of the frame to be utilized to receive the retaining device. in the retracted position of the latter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a retaining device embodying the novel features of the present invention and mounted in a window frame to hold back curtains from the window.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the retaining device.

In the drawings, the invention is shown for purposes of illustration embodied in a retaining device for engaging and holding in an out-ofthe-way position to one side of a window opening II the intermediate and lower portions of ourtains l2 suspended from the top of a window frame 13. The retaining device is especially adapted for use with the vertical part of a standard window frame comprising, as shown in Fig. 2, an outer mold member l4 and an inner casing member l5 lying along the outer and inner sides respectively of a wall l6 and joined by a jamb member I! along which a sash l8 reciprocates vertically. Disposed between the mold and the casing members 14 and I5 and defined by the latter, the jamb, and a stud IQ of the wall is a vertical air space 28 of rectangular cross section which receives the sash weight and the sash 1 cord (not shown) for the window.

Generally, the novel retaining device comprises an elongated tubular guide 2 l1 adapted to be mounted in the window frame l3 and a rod 22- slidable horizontally in the guide through a limited range between a retracted position within the frame as shown in phantom in Fig. 2: and an advanced position in which the rod projects horizontally from the casing member t5 as shown in Fig. l and in full in Fig. 2 to engage and hold back the curtains. In this instance, the. guide 2| is a hollow cylinder or sleeve which is sized on its exterior to-fit. snugly into a hole 23 bored horizontally in an intermediate portion of the casing member 15 and opening into the air space 20. At its outer end, the guide is formed with a flange 24 engageable with the exterior of the casing tolimit inward movement of the guide into the hole. The length of the guide is correlated with and made shorter than the thickness of the casing member to extend short of the air space and thereby avoid interference with the sash weight and its cord. The guide shown in the drawings is sized for a tight press fit in a hole havingv a diameter of of an inch, the exterior of the guide having a diameter of of an inch.

While: the guide 21- may be made of: sheetmetal or of coiled wire, preferably it is formed by molding a suitable thermosetting plastic material. If desired, peripheral grooves 25 may be formed at axially spaced points on the exterior of the guide to hold glue for securing the guide to the casing wall of the hole 23 in the member I 5.

The rod 22 in this instance, also is cylindrical in shape, its diameter being slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the guide 2| so that the rod fits loosely in the latter. Axial movement of the rod within the guide is limited by abutments or stops 26 and 21 engageable respectively with the inner end of the guide and the flange 24 on the outer guide end. The outer abutment 21 is the inner side of aseparately formed annular head 28 pressed on the outer end of the rod. The inner abutment 26 is formed by flattening the inner rod end to a dimension greater than the inner diameter of the guide.

In order to simplify the installation of the retainer device If] in the window frame l3, the length of the rod 22 which projects beyond the inner end of the guide 2| is correlated with and made slightly shorter than the depth of the air space 20. With this length of rod, the air space may be utilized to receive the rod in its retracted position so as to avoid the necessity of forming additional holes in the frame or the wall I 6. Also, the rod in its advanced position projects outwardly from the guide flange 24 far enough to support the curtains.

In the assembly of a retaining device, the head 28 is first pressed onto the outer end of the rod 22 and, after the latter is inserted axially into the guide 2| with the head engaging the guide flange 24, the inner end of the rod is flattened. To install the assembled retaining device in the window frame l3, the single hole 23 is bored horizontally through the casing member l at a point approximately midway between the ends and side edges of the latter so that the hole opens into the air space 20. The installation is then completed simply by pressing the guide into the hole until the guide flange abuts the outer side of the casing member.

construction but also may be installed easily in standard window frames. Such installation requires the formation of only one hole in the window frame due to the correlation of the length of the rod 22 with the depth of the air space 28 so that the latter receives the rod in its retracted position. With the guide 2| extending short of the air space, both the guide and the rod are disposed out of the path of the sash weight when the rod is fully extended.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of, a Window frame having horizontally spaced mold and easing members adapted to lie along the exterior and interior sides respectively of a vertical wall and defining opposite sides of a vertical air space for a window sash cord and weight, means on said casing member defining a hole extending horizontally through the member, an elongated tubular guide fitting snugly in said hole and having a flange on its outer end abutting the exterior of said casing member, said guide having a length equal approximately to the thickness of the casing member with the inner end of the guide extending short of said air space, a rod extending through said guide and slidable back and forth therein from an outer position in which the rod projects outwardly from said casing to engage and hold back curtains hung on said wall and pulled horizontally away from the window opening defined by said frame and an irmer position in which the rod is disposed within the guide and said air space, and abutments formed in opposite ends of said rod and engageable respectively with opposite ends of said guide to limit horizontal movement of said rod to said inner and outer positions thereof, said rod having a length correlated with the depth of said air space between said members to extend short of said mold memher in said inner position of the rod but to project outwardly from said casing member far enough tohold back curtains in said outer position.

2. The combination of, a window frame having horizontally spaced mold and casing members adapted to lie along the exterior and interior sides respectively of a vertical wall and defining opposite sides of a vertical air space for a window sash cord and weight, means on said casing member defining a hole extending horizontally through the member, an elongated tubular guide fitting snugly in said hole and having a flange on its outer end engageable with the exterior of said casing member, a rod extending axially through said guide and slidable back and forth from an outer position in which the rodprojects outwardly from said casing to engage and hold back curtains hung on said wall and pulled horizontally away from the window opening defined by said frame and an inner position in which the rod is disposed within the guide and said air space, and abutments formed in opposite ends of said rod and engageable respectively with opposite ends of said guide to limit horizontal movement of said rod to said inner and outer positions thereof, said rod having a length correlated with the depth of said air space between said members to extend short of said mold memher in said inner position of the rod but to project outwardly from said casing member far enough to hold back curtains in said outer position.

No references cited. 

